Transposing piano with laterally movable keyboard

ABSTRACT

In a transposing piano a movable key lever carriage on the key lever bed is adapted for lateral movement of the key levers for a desired transposition. The key levers are straight, of a reduced length to clear the action supports during lateral movement, and are provided with a center slot which receives a center key pin on the carriage and a rear slot at the rear end which receives and is guided by a rear key pin on the carriage during pivotal movement thereof, the key levers being readily removable from the carriage. A space equalizing assembly is provided on each sticker rod to equalize gap spacing and transmit motion from a selected key lever to a selected sticker rod. A releasable coupling connects each space equalizing assembly to a capstan. A clutch bar supports the key levers to facilitate the release of each space equalizing assembly from each capstan for allowing lateral movement of the key levers.

United States Patent 1 Rogers 1 1 TRANSPOSING PIANO WITH LATERALLY MOVABLE KEYBOARD [76] Inventor: Jae P. Rogers, 1186 Yost St., Aurora, Colo. 80010 [22] Filed: Aug. 23, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 173,823

Primary Examiner-Richard B. Wilkinson Assistant Examiner-Lawrence R. Franklin Attorney-Reilly and Lewis [11] 3,724,317 1 Apr. 3, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT In a transposing piano a movable key lever carriage on the key lever bed is adapted for lateral movement of the key levers for a desired transposition. The key levers are straight, of a reduced length to clear the action supports during lateral movement, and are provided with a center slot which receives a center key 'pin on the carriage and a rear slot at the rear end which receives and is guided by a rear key pin on the carriage during pivotal movement thereof, the key levers being readily removable from the carriage. A space equalizing assembly is provided on each sticker rod to equalize gap spacing and transmit motion from a selected key lever to a selected sticker rod. A releasable coupling connects each space equalizing assembly to a capstan. A clutch bar supports the key levers to facilitate the release of each space equalizing assembly from each capstan for allowing lateral movement of the key levers.

11 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPR 3 I975 SHEET 1 UF 3 INVENTOR JAE P. ROGERS L sbumawsww kk Ill llllllllL I I l I I l l fiw I I I I I l I |l| PB 31 w xkwl uufmfww kmwmmw unmw PATENTED APR 3 I975 sIIiIzIsIIr Ii I I I I I I II I I I I l I I I III I I L TRANSPOSING PIANO WITH LATERALLY MOVABLE KEYBOARD This invention relates to improvements in transposing pianos having a laterally movable keyboard.

Transposing pianos permit the player having the ability to play in a familiar key, such as the key of C, to produce music written in other keys using the fingering on the keyboard for a familiar key. In my earlier patent application Ser. No. 37,281 now US. Pat. No. 3,613,494, entitled ADJUSTABLE KEYBOARD TRANSPOSING ADAPTER AND INSTRUMENT, I disclose a plurality of similar telescoping adapters to transfer the motion between a selected key lever and a selected action elbow. The present invention represents a different approach to transposing music on a piano. In my earlier application the key levers were retained in the same position but in the present invention all of the key levers are simultaneously moved to one side or the other to accomplish a desired transposition. Prior attempts have been made to move the key levers. For example, in US Pat. No. l,07l,767 an alteration is made in both top and bottom ends of the lower action to adjust for gap spacing with no alteration in the configuration of the key levers.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved movable keyboard-type transposing piano which is chiefly characterized with a relatively few, simple movements for transposition accompanied by a short transposition time and requiring only rela tively few modifications of a conventional piano.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an improved movable keyboard for a transposing piano capable of providing music in a different key from that in which it is written.

Still a further object of this invention is to provide a movable keyboard-type transposing piano characterized by straight key levers, a slight modification of the sticker rods and a relatively simple keyboard pivotal clutch bar permitting sliding movement of all of the key levers at the same time relative to the piano frame.

In accordance with the present invention in the preferred embodiment shown there is provided a center balance rail and a rear buffer rail connected together to form a carriage to move the key levers simultaneously to one side or the other. The key levers are straight, of reduced length, and are provided with a slot at the rear to receive an upright key pin or guide on the rear buffer rail. A clutch located forwardly of the center of gravity of the key levers maintains the key levers in a playing position while the sticker rods are simultaneously raised manually so that they clear the capstans and permit the key levers to be slid laterally over the key lever bed. Bearing means are provided for the carriage to reduce sliding friction. A forwardly projecting space equalizer member is mounted on each sticker rod which is engaged by the capstan in its upward movement to adjust for spacing differences between the sticker rods and key levers and transmit motion from the key levers to the sticker rods. A magnetic coupling is used to connect each capstan to each space equalizing member.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of the present invention will become more apparent as the description proceeds taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic top plan view of a rear portion of a transposing piano embodying features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view taken approximately along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1 showing the key lever construction and the significant portions of the sticker rods;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of only one each of the black and white key levers of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary end elevation view of the transposing piano;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the sticker rod and outwardly projecting space equalizing assembly secured thereto;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation view of the space equalizing assembly shown in FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic plan view showing the range of transposition for the number 40 key lever (Middle C").

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIG. 1, there is shown a schematic diagram of the general organization and arrangement of a transposing piano embodying features of the present invention. The piano parts shown and described are those of a standard upright WALWORTH piano made by the M.

' Schulz Company, Ser. No. 80466, 1913 Model, and the significant conventional parts thereof willfirst be described followed by a detailed description of the specific features thereof. The piano has a keyboard with 88 key levers each represented by numeral 12 arranged side by side and 88 sticker rods each represented by numeral 13 arranged side by side at the back of the key levers. Only a rear portion of the key levers are shown because of space limitations. The key levers are of two types, black designated 12b and white designated 12w.

In the conventional piano, the wooden sticker rods 13 form a part of a lower action which transmits motion from the key levers to the strings. The upper action above the lower action includes an action elbow, jack, escapement, set-off button, bridal strap, back-check, butt, hammer rod and hammer for causing a string or group of strings to generate a sound when the hammer is moved rearwardly. The part of the action above the sticker rod is represented schematically by a line 14, and the string or strings for producing sound are represented by a block 15 in FIG. 1 because of space limitations. Only one line 14 and block 15 are shown but it is understood that each sticker rod 13 has a separate action and string or strings associated therewith, but these have been omitted from the drawings in FIG. 1 for clarity.

The sticker rods 13 are further designated on the drawing with key designations which, proceeding from left to right, are A, B B,C, C it D, E' E, F, F G and A' and this sequence repeats from left to right with the last sticker rod having a C designation. It is understood that these key designations also apply to the corresponding actions 14 and strings l5 operably associated with each sticker rod. Further, in the conventional piano action support posts 17 are provided at the back of the piano to provide support for the piano action. These action support posts divide the sticker rods and key levers into three groups. The first group on the left side is designated 1 and comprises 27 sticker rods and key levers. The middle group, designated 11, comprises 29 sticker rods and key levers, and the right side group, designated III, comprises 32 sticker rods and key levers. It is noted that the action support posts 17 cause an unequal spacing of the sticker rods relative to the key levers 12 which is taken care of in a manner described hereinafter. As best seen in FIG. 2, the piano further has a key lever bed 18, a front lip 19, and upright side arms 21 and 22 on opposite sides of the piano. A filler block 23 is provided between each side arm and the key levers which acts as a stop or limit for the side movement of the key levers. A front rail 24 extends under the front of the key levers along the lip 19 and has felt washers 25 for cushioning the key levers. The front key pins which normally extend upwardly through the washers have been removed.

A movable carriage for the key levers includes a balance rail 26 extending the width of the bed 18 and beyond the ends of the piano arms having an upstanding center key pin or guide 28 for the white key levers 12w and an upstanding center pin or guide 29 for the black key levers 12b. A felt washer 31 is placed around the base of the key pin 28 and a felt washer 32 is placed around the base of the key pin 29. The carriage includes a buffer rail 34 at the rear of the bed having an upright oval-shaped key pin or guide 35 and a felt washer 36 is placed around the base thereof. The

balance and buffer rails are interconnected by spaced dowels or cross braces 38 which have tapered ends inserted into the opposite sides of the buffer and balance rails and are fixedly secured thereto. The balance rail is tapered along the upper forward edge at 260 and along the upper rear edge 26b to permit the key lever to pivot thereon.

Bearing assemblies comprising a pair of abacus units 41 and 42 are provided under the balance rail on opposite sides to reduce friction and permit free lateral sliding movement of the carriage and in turn wheels 43 are mounted at spaced intervals along the inner side of the buffer rail which engage the floor to further reduce sliding friction thereof. The abacus 45 includes longitudinally spaced groups of axially spaced tapered rollers on parallel axles 46 and are mounted in a recessed area 47 in the piano bed 18. As best seen in FIG. 4, an opening 51 is provided in both side arms to permit the ends of the balance rail to extend therethrough, and an opening 52 is provided in both side arms of the piano to permit the ends of the buffer rail to extend therethrough.

The key levers 12 shown are made from key levers taken from the conventional piano, which key levers are cut or severed at approximately the rear edge of the cap portion 12' of the black key lever 12b. The severed parts are held together by a pair of upper and lower connecting spring steel rods 54 and 55, respectively, which insert into the cut ends. The rear ends of the key levers 12 are cut off to the extent necessary to have the key levers clear the action support posts 17 during their lateral movement. The rear ends of the shortened key levers are provided with a vertical semi-circular slot 56 which receives the oval-shaped rear key pin 35 and is positioned to provide guided movement in the pivoting of the key lever. The capstan 57 is relocated on the key lever to a position forwardly of the rear key pin 35.

Each key lever 12 has a tapered center slot 58 to permit each key lever to fit down over the rails and seat on the felt washers and is removed from the carriage by lifting upwardly. These center slots 58 are tapered so as to be wide at the top and narrow at the bottom to permit the key levers to pivot on the balance rail 26. As

best seen in FIG. 2, the modification of the key levers shifts the center of gravity of removed key levers forwardly. For the white key levers 12w the center of gravity is approximately at 61, and for the black key levers the center of gravity is approximately at 62.

A space equalizing assembly is associated with each sticker rod 13 including a forwardly projecting space equalizing plate or member 65 fastened at one end to the bottom of the sticker rod and extending forwardly so that a forward end position is directly above a capstan so that the capstan will engage the space equalizing member 65 when the key lever is depressed during playing. The support equalizing member 65 is fastened to the bottom of the sticker rod by drilling a hole and threading a screw 66 thereinto. A leather washer 67 is provided between the head of the screw and space equalizing member. An inclined support rod 68 is affixed to the top of the space equalizing member 65 and extends into a hole 69 drilled in the sticker rod 13 for added support for the space equalizing member 65. The lower end of the space equalizing member has a U- shaped upper portion 71 which receives the lower end of the rod 68 and the rod is secured by a glue or the like. As best seen in FIG. l, the space equalizing member 65 in the first group I inclines to the right, the second group II projects straight out and the third group III inclines to the left. The sticker rod 13 is further provided with a weight or weighted body 72 affixed thereto above rod 68. The additional weight provided by weights 72 provides the necessary touch, response, and repetitive action for the shortened key levers. A releasable magnetic coupling is provided between each space equalizing member 65 and capstan 57. This coupling includes a metallic strip 73 on the bottom of the member 65 and a magnetic cap 74 on the capstan.

The clutch for the key levers comprises a clutch bar 76 preferably located approximately under theamputation point of the key levers and extending the width of the bed 18 which is pivotally supported by a hinge 77 so as to swing between a raised position shown in full lines and a lowered position shown in dashed lines. A felt washer strip 76a is provided on top of bar 76. A bottom opening 78 is cut in the key lever bed 18 to afford access to the clutch bar and balance rail. The movement of the key levers is accomplished by sliding the carriage over the key lever bed 18 to the desiredkey location. as follows: Prior to shifting, a selected number of key levers are removed from the piano at one side. The clutch bar is moved to the up position shown to support the key levers 12 in their normal position. The sticker rods are then simultaneously raised by manually pushing the soft bar of the piano action rearwardly and the I carriage is moved by grasping the balance rail and sliding it to one side or the other. The key levers are shifted (40th key lever from left side), this key lever may be moved up or to the right side to one of nine positions corresponding with sticker rods C i D, E E, F, F 54 G, A and A, and down to a position corresponding with sticker rods B and B b Each time a move is made, key levers must be removed from the keybed at the end towards which the move is made and replaced at the opposite end after the move so that preferably there are 88 key levers on the piano key bed. Eleven extra key levers are preferably used to add to one side or the other as desired making the total available number 99. This affords nine moves to the right (up) and two moves to the left (down).

In a full sequence of operation for making a transposition, the clutch bar 76 is pivoted to the up position shown. A desired number of key levers 12 are removed at one end of the key lever bed. The space equalizing members are then raised by pushing the soft bar rearwardly, and the carriage is manually moved to the right or to the left a desired increment of distance thereby shifting all of the key levers simultaneously. Appropriate key levers equal to the number removed are then placed in position at the opposite end of the key lever bed. The clutch bar is returned to the down position, and the piano keyboard is ready for play.

Although the present disclosure has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example and that changes in details of structure may be made without departing from the spirit thereof.

What is claimed is:

1. In a transposing piano having a key lever bed, upright arms on each side of the bed and a plurality of upright sticker rods arranged side by side rearwardly of the bed adapted to actuate selected strings for producing different musical sounds, the combination'comprismg:

a movable carriage on said key lever bed including a center balance rail and a rear buffer rail connected together by spaced braces for conjoint movement across said key lever bed, said balance and buffer rails being extensible and retractable through openings in said side arms, said center rail having tapered upper forward and rear edges, said center balance rail having a plurality of spaced upright center key pins and said rear buffer rail having a plurality of spaced upright oval-shaped rear key pins and bearing means for the carriage,

a plurality of black and white key levers releasably retained for pivotal movement by an associated of said center and rear key pins, each key lever having a center slot and a slot at the rear end for releasably receiving said center and rear key pins, respectively, each said key lever having a capstan, the center of gravity of each key lever removed from the carriage being at a point forwardly of the center slot and center key pin,

a space equalizing assembly for each sticker rod and A key lever including a plate projecting outwardly from the bottom of each sticker rod and extending over a selected capstan to transmit motion from a selected key lever to a selected sticker rod, a support member extending from the outer end of the plate to an intermediate portion ofa sticker rod,

a clutch bar pivotally mounted on the bed forwardly of the balance rail to pivot between an up position and a down position adapted to support all of the key levers in the playing position when in the up position so that when the sticker rods are manually raised to clear the capstans the key levers are movable a preselected distance laterally of the carriage to align with a selected capstan under a selected space equalizing member for the playing of music in a selected key using the finger position of a familiar key, each said capstan having a strip of magnetic tape and each said plate having a metallic portion to releasably connect each capstan to a selected plate, and

a weight on each sticker rod to return each key lever after depression for a balanced repetitive action during play.

2. In a transposing piano having a key lever bed and a plurality of action mechanisms including sticker rods arranged side by side adapted to actuate selected strings for producing different musical sounds, the combination comprising:

a movable carriage on said key lever bed including a center balance rail and a rear buffer rail connected together for conjoint movement laterally over said key lever bed, said center balance rail having an upright center key pin and said rear buffer rail having an upright rear key pin,

a plurality of substantially straight key levers on the movable carriage releasably retained for pivotal movement by said center and rear key pins, respectively, each key lever having a center slot and a slot at the rear end for releasably receiving said center and rear key pins, respectively, each said key lever having a capstan at the rear end,

a space equalizing member projecting outwardly from each sticker rod and extending over a capstan to transmit motion from a selected key lever to a selected sticker rod including means to releasably connect each capstan to a selected equalizer member,

a clutch bar on the key lever bed forwardly of the balance rail adapted to support said key levers so that when the sticker rods are manually raised to clear the capstans the key levers are movable on the carriage a preselected distance laterally of the key lever bed to align a selected capstan under a selected space equalizing member for the playing of music in a selected key using the finger positioning ofa familiar key.

3. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein the center of gravity for each key lever which has been removed from the carriage is located at a point forwardly of the center guide.

4. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said releasable connection is provided by a metallic strip on each space equalizing member and a magnetic strip on each capstan.

5. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rails are provided with bearing means to reduce sliding friction during movement of the rails relative to the key lever bed.

6. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bearing means for the balance rail is in the form of a pair of abacus units mounted in a recess in the key lever bed at opposite sides thereof under the balance rail, and rollers mounted at spaced intervals along one side of the rear buffer rail adapted to roll over the key lever bed.

7. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein the ends of said balance and buffer rails extend through openings in the sides of the piano.

8. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rear support guides for the key levers are in the form of upright elongated oval-shaped key pins.

9. In a transposing' piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said space equalizing member includes a plate projecting outwardly from the lower end of each and buffer rail. 

1. In a transposing piano having a key lever bed, upright arms on each side of the bed and a plurality of upright sticker rods arranged side by side rearwardly of the bed adapted to actuate selected strings for producing different musical sounds, the combination comprising: a movable carriage on said key lever bed including a center balance rail and a rear buffer rail connected together by spaced braces for conjoint movement across said key lever bed, said balance and buffer rails being extensible and retractable through openings in said side arms, said center rail having tapered upper forward and rear edges, said center balance rail having a plurality of spaced upright center key pins and said rear buffer rail having a plurality of spaced upright ovalshaped rear key pins and bearing means for the carriage, a plurality of black and white key levers releasably retained for pivotal movement by an associated of said center and rear key pins, each key lever having a center slot and a slot at the rear end for releasably receiving said center and rear key pins, respectively, each said key lever having a capstan, the center of gravity of each key lever removed from the carriage being at a point forwardly of the center slot and center key pin, a space equalizing assembly for each sticker rod and key lever including a plate projecting outwardly from the bottom of each sticker rod and extending over a selected capstan to transmit motion from a selected key lever to a selected sticker rod, a support member extending from the outer end of the plate to an intermediate portion of a sticker rod, a clutch bar pivotally mounted on the bed forwardly of the balance rail to pivot between an up position and a down position adapted to support all of the key levers in the playing position when in the up position so that when the sticker rods are manually raised to clear the capstans the key levers are movable a preselected distance laterally of the carriage to align with a selected capstan under a selected space equalizing member for the playing of music in a selected key using the finger position of a familiar key, each said capstan having a strip of magnetic tape and each said plate having a metallic portion to releasably connect each capstan to a selected plate, and a weight on each sticker rod to return each key lever after depression for a balanced repetitive action during play.
 2. In a transposing piano having a key lever bed and a plurality of action mechanisms including sticker rods arranged side by side adapted to actuate selected strings for producing different musical sounds, the combination comprising: a movable carriage on said key lever bed including a center balance rail and a rear buffer rail connected together for conjoint movement laterally over said key lever bed, said center balance rail having an upright center key pin and said rear buffer rail having an upright rear key pin, a plurality of substantially straight key levers on the movable carriage releasably retained for pivotal movement by said center and rear key pins, respectively, each key lever having a center slot and a slot at the rear end for releasably receiving said center and rear key pins, respectively, each said key lever having a capstan at the rear end, a space equalizing member projecting outwardly from each sticker rod and extending over a capstan to transmit motion from a selected key lever to a selected sticker rod including means to releasably connect each capstan to a selected equalizer member, a clutch bar on the key lever bed forwardly of the balance rail adapted to support said key levers so that when the sticker rods are manually raised to clear the capstans the key levers are movable on the carriage a preselected distance laterally of the key lever bed to align a selected capstan under a selected space equalizing member for the playing of music in a selected key using the finger positioning of a familiar key.
 3. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein the center of gravity for each key lever which has been removed from the carriage is located at a point forwardly of the center guide.
 4. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said releasable connection is provided by a metallic strip on each space equalizing member and a magnetic strip on each capstan.
 5. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rails are provided with bearing means to reduce sliding friction during movement of the rails relative to the key lever bed.
 6. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 5 wherein said bearing means for the balance rail is in the form of a pair of abacus units mounted in a recess in the key lever bed at opposite sides thereof under the balance rail, and rollers mounted at spaced intervals along one side of the rear buffer rail adapted to roll over the key lever bed.
 7. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein the ends of said balance and buffer rails extend through openings in the sides of the piano.
 8. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said rear support guides for the key levers are in the form of upright elongated oval-shaped key pins.
 9. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said space equalizing member includes a plate projecting outwardly from the lower end of each sticker rod and an inclined rod extending from the forward end of the plate to an intermediate position of the sticker rod.
 10. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2, further including a weight on each sticker rod to return each key lever after depression for a balanced repetitive action during play.
 11. In a transposing piano as set forth in claim 2 wherein said movable carriage includes braces connected at spaced intervals between said balance rail and buffer rail. 